Bed Bugs
Biology
The bed bug is found throughout the United States and the world. This bug probably received its common name of “bed bug” from its association with human sleeping beds. Normally they only to come out to feed on at night to feed on sleeping people. Adult bed bugs are brown to reddish-brown, oval-shaped, flattened, and about 3/16 to 1/5 inch long. Their flat shape enables them to easily hide in cracks and crevices. The body becomes fuller and dark red after a blood meal. Bed bugs have a beak like mouth that creates a hole in order for them to feed. The adults have small non functioning wings. Newly hatched nymphs are nearly colorless, becoming brownish as they mature. Nymphs have the same appearance of adults. Eggs are white and about 1/32 inch long. The life cycle of a bed bug varies. There have been cases of bed bugs that can live for years and go months without feeding but generally they only live for a 4 to 6 month average.
Feeding Preferences
Bed bugs usually feed on the person who is sleeping. The bug pierces the skin with its mouth, and it injects saliva as it probes for blood vessels. Immature bugs can get a blood meal in a few minutes, but an adult can feed for ten to fifteen minutes. Then they crawl back into their hiding place to digest their meal. When they are hungry, bugs will travel to find a host.
Transmitted Diseases
Bed bugs are not carriers of human diseases.
Habits
In Ohio bed bugs are most frequently associated with the big and little brown bugs, which group together in colonies. Although mammals are their preferred host, these bugs also may feed on birds and rodents. Bed bugs hide in the dark, and prefer tight, narrow spaces. The main means of travel for Bed bugs is attaching to a host and being transported via clothing or accessories. They can also enter new homes by clinging to the fur of an animal. If their normal hosts is eliminated, bed bugs will seek other sources of food and may crawl and appear in living areas in the house. Bed bugs may eventually move to areas that are closer to sleeping humans. These potential hiding spots include cracks and crevices in the mattress, bedding, and bed frame. Bed bugs also find spaces within gaps in woodwork, trim, and furniture, or inside drapery pleats, or behind peeling wallpaper, picture frames, and wall hangings.
Humans experience different types of reactions to bug bites. A welt or lump at the site of the bug bite and itching are the most common reactions. Bug bites cause a colorless welt. Unlike mosquito and flea bites that have red centers. Normally, two to three welts occur in close to each other. Scratching the welts may cause them to become infected. Structural Pest is here to help. We not only eliminate your bed bug infestation, but we assist you with every effort to avoid a re-infestation. Structural Pest will give you peace of mind that your pest control needs will be handled quickly and discreetly.
Bed Bug Extermination
There are a few things that you will have to do when you are trying to get rid of bed bugs. Prep work will be the key in making sure that you do not have a reoccurance of bed bug infestion after the extermination process. After your schedule your service you will recieve a prep list sheet. It is important that you preform the tasks involved to avoid futher infestation and repeat infestation.
How To Check For Bed Bugs
First, grab a flash light and check the seams on your mattress. You will be looking fecal stains (dark small smeared spots), smashed bed bugs (red stained smears), or the actual live bug. We suggest starting with the mattress and bedding (sheets, comforter/bedspread)
Find Out How Bed Bugs Were Introduced
Think of when your first saw the bed bugs. What was going on at the house. Did you have someone over? Did you go on vacation or travel recently? Chances are they were introduced because of something similar.
Structural Pest Bed Bug Program
David will perform a thorough inspection on both the interior and exterior of your home, finding all the infested areas and identifying which pests you are dealing with. Once identified, David will implement a pest control program that is designed to target the specific pests in your home.
